xxxii. CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
January 31, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Los Angeles, California.

It had been four days since Sedona's groundbreaking Grammy night and the official release of "Push 2 Start." Life had shifted into overdrive. The single was climbing the charts faster than anyone anticipated, landing at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 within its first week. Critics praised it as a "genre-bending anthem," blending Sedona's Jamaican roots with sleek modern R&B, while fans declared it their new summer obsession—even though it was still January.

Despite the whirlwind, Sedona had barely taken a moment to catch her breath. Between interviews, photoshoots, rehearsals, and hours spent in the studio finishing her album, every day blurred into the next. Yet, through it all, she couldn't stop thinking about Kendrick.

She was liking him a lot—and hard.

If this were just some regular relationship without the cameras and prying eyes, she would've been shouting it from the rooftops. But it wasn't. Both of them were famous to a large degree, and they had agreed to keep their relationship lowkey—no grand announcements, no social media posts (unless it was subtle), and no public displays of affection that couldn't be chalked up to friendship. Even so, the connection between them was undeniable, even in the smallest moments.

After a long day of press, Sedona finally returned to her apartment, kicking off her heels and collapsing onto the couch. Her phone buzzed, and she smiled as Kendrick's name lit up her screen.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 2:30 PM

Kenny 🤭
U good? What's up.

Sedona
Exhausted. But good. What about you?

Kenny 🤭
Just got done with handling things in the studio. Thought I'd check on you.

Sedona
You always do. Wanna come over?

There was a pause before his next text came through.

Kenny 🤭
On my way.

Sedona stared at the message, her stomach flipping. Shit, shit, shit. It finally hit her—he was actually coming over. This wasn't just some late-night phone call or FaceTime. Kendrick was coming to her place.

Her nerves danced between anxiety and excitement as she shot off the couch. Sedona never left her home untidy, but that didn't stop her from tidying up again—straightening throw pillows, wiping counters, and checking her reflection in the hallway mirror. Her hair was already in a neat bun, and her fitted white top and gray lounge pants were casual yet cute. At least I'm comfortable, she thought to herself, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

—

When Kendrick arrived, dressed down in sweatpants and a hoodie, Sedona couldn't help but smile. Her stress melted away as he walked in holding a bag of takeout.

"I figured you hadn't eaten," He said, placing the bag on the kitchen counter.

"You figured right."

As they sat on the couch, sharing food with the city lights twinkling through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Kendrick glanced around. He'd never fully seen the inside of her condo before. Sure, he'd seen glimpses of her kitchen during FaceTime calls, but this was different.

"This is nice," He said, taking it all in. "You've got good taste."

Sedona smiled, setting down her drink. "You've only seen, like, one room which is the kitchen. Want a tour?"

Kendrick shrugged, but the way he leaned forward slightly told her he was intrigued. "Sure, why not."

She stood up and started with the kitchen. "So, this is where I always am on FaceTime. If I'm not conjuring up something in the kitchen, I'm either in the studio—or bed."

"Figures," He said, smirking as he opened one of her cabinets and saw her collection of spices. "You really are serious about your cooking, huh? Half of these don't even look like you can find 'em in the store."

"Of course. No half-assing here." Sedona remarked. "And you can't, I took 'em while I was in Jamaica."

Next was her mini studio, a small but cozy setup with a keyboard, speakers, and a wall lined with acoustic panels. "This is where the magic happens," She said, gesturing to the space.

Kendrick nodded, visibly impressed. "You really built all this yourself?"

"With some help, but yeah. I like having a space where I can just... be."

When they reached her glass cabinet, she hesitated for a second. "And this is... where I keep all my awards."

Inside were her gold and platinum records, several trophies from music organizations, and now, her brand-new Grammys. Kendrick crouched slightly to get a better look.

"Damn," he said, his voice low. "You really do this."

She laughed lightly, but his compliment warmed her. "I'm starting to realize that I'm gonna need more space for my awards soon."

He stood, glancing around. "I can tell. So, cherry red, huh?"

"What?"

He motioned toward her decor—the red accents sprinkled throughout the condo, the necklace around her neck, even her car parked in the driveway.

"Nothing," He said, smirking to himself. "Just a nice color." Mental note: her favorite color is cherry red.

Sedona led him to the bathroom next. "Not that you'll need it, but, you know, just in case you get lost," she teased.

Kendrick chuckled, leaning on the doorframe. "You really got this whole place thought out."

"It's home," She said simply, her tone carrying a quiet pride.

By the time they made it back to the living room, Sedona felt a little more at ease. Showing Kendrick her space felt vulnerable, but his easygoing energy made it feel natural.

"You've been everywhere lately," He said as they settled back onto the couch, opening another box of food. "It's like I can't go anywhere without seeing your name."

Sedona laughed, leaning back against the cushions. "Tell me about it. I can't even scroll through Instagram without seeing my own face. It's surreal."

"You deserve it, though," Kendrick assured, his tone sincere. "You worked for this. But don't let it burn you out."

"I won't," Sedona agreed, though her voice carried a hint of doubt. "It's just... a lot, you know? The expectations, the pressure. Everyone's watching."

Kendrick set down his food and turned to her, his gaze steady. "Forget what they think. Do it for you. You got somethin' special, D. Don't let nobody take that from you."

Sedona looked at him, her chest tightening at his words. He always had a way of grounding her, reminding her of why she started this journey in the first place.

"Thank you," Sedona said softly.

He leaned back, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Always." 

They settled in, continuing to eat takeout while watching Love & Basketball on her TV.

"Quincy wasn't shit," Sedona declared, mid-chew.

Kendrick paused, his chopsticks in hand. "C'mon, he wasn't that bad."

There was a look in her eye that read: I know you're not defending him. "Nope, nope, nope." Sedona sat up, her energy suddenly at full blast. "He absolutely was. And I'm going to stand on that. Now that I'm older, it's clear as day—he treated Monica like trash."

Kendrick smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Alright, break it down for me."

"Oh, I will," Sedona points at the screen. "First of all, he didn't take her seriously as a person, let alone as an athlete. He saw her as arm candy, that's it. Second, the attitude! Quincy couldn't handle Monica's success because it bruised his ego. And let's not even talk about how he acted after his parents' drama came out. Like boy you knew that your dad wasn't shit, why be so surprised now?"

Kendrick chuckled, watching her animatedly list off every flaw in Quincy's character. "You're really passionate about this."

"Because it's the truth!" Sedona said, throwing her hands up. "Love is supposed to be supportive, not competitive."

"You got a point," He conceded, though mostly to keep her from spiraling further.

Sedona shot him a triumphant look before settling back into the cushions.

As the night deepened and the movie credits rolled, Kendrick glanced at his phone and sighed. "I should probably get going. It's late."

Sedona groaned softly, still half-curled into his side. "Already?"

He chuckled, brushing a loose curl away from her face. "Yeah, don't want you falling asleep on me completely. Besides, you've got a big day tomorrow."

Reluctantly, Sedona sat up, her body protesting the loss of warmth and comfort. She followed him to the door, their steps slow, neither of them in a rush to end the night. When Kendrick reached for the doorknob, she caught his hand, lacing her fingers through his.

"What a day," she said with a soft smile, her eyes lingering on him.

Kendrick smiled back, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "What a night."

As they stood there in the quiet of her entryway, he glanced down at her and said, "You know... you should come by my place next time. Get the full Kendrick experience."

Sedona raised a brow, intrigued. "The full Kendrick experience, huh? And what exactly does that include?"

He laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know? You'll just have to come and find out. Grand tour and everything."

Her smile widened, her playful curiosity bubbling to the surface. "Alright, I'm holding you to that. But it's not happening tomorrow—I'll be filming the 'Push 2 Start' music video. And you know how those days go. Long, hectic, and draining."

Kendrick nodded, his admiration for her work ethic clear in his expression. "Yeah, I know. But whenever you're free, just say the word."

"Deal," she said softly.

He stepped outside, but she kept hold of his hand, their fingers lingering as long as they could. Finally, Sedona leaned in, her lips brushing his in a slow, tender kiss. It was a moment that felt both electrifying and grounding, a connection that said everything words couldn't.

"Safe travels," she whispered when they finally pulled apart.

Kendrick gave her one last look, his gaze warm and steady. "Always. And good luck tomorrow. You're gonna kill it, as usual."

"Thanks," she said, her voice laced with gratitude. "Goodnight, Kenny."

"Goodnight, D," he said, letting her hand slip from his as he turned to head down the hallway.

Sedona watched him until he disappeared around the corner, her heart light yet full. She closed the door, leaning against it for a moment with a small, contented smile. Tomorrow might bring chaos and cameras, but for now, she had this moment to hold on to.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Thirty-two.
— ０１／２５／２５
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Wattpad has been giving me trouble with this chapter but I'm just pushing through so I could give it to you. I know it says the 25th but let's just keep it that way.

Thoughts on the chapter? And what do you expect for the next one?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
- shea